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Canada to host Italy in 2016

Italy will take on Canada in Toronto, Ontario next June in a rematch of this year's Rugby World Cup pool match which the Azzurri won 23-18.

2016 will see Canada begin a new World Cup cycle with eyes on qualification for the 2019 tournament in Japan.

While a date and location are yet to be confirmed for the game, the match will mark a return to Ontario after July's Pacific Nations Cup contest against Samoa earlier this year that was part of a triple-header at BMO Field in Toronto.

International rugby has featured yearly at the venue in downtown Toronto since 2011, with sell-out crowds of over 20,000 fans providing an excellent sporting atmosphere.

"The atmosphere in Toronto is outstanding and the players really enjoy playing in front of their home fans," said head coach Kieran Crowley.

"The support we receive on the field is a big lift for the players and hopefully we can get the win."

Canada and Italy have met eight times since their inaugural clash in 1983 with Canada winning twice. Italy has won the last five matches – including a 25-16 victory at BMO Field in June of 2012 – and are currently ranked 12th in the world.

"They're a tier one nation that will be coming off the Six Nations competition and will provide us with a quality opposition," Crowley said.

"We know how the Italians play, they have a very strong forward pack and we competed really well against them in the World Cup but we didn't quite get there. We'll be hoping this time that can we achieve the desired result against them."